FORMER Carlton and St Kilda champion Alex Jesaulenko was the star attraction at one of Australian football’s biggest nights when he was elevated to Legend status at the AFL Hall of Fame Induction Dinner.

Eight new members were also inducted into the Hall of Fame, with long-time Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy headlining an all-star line-up of former champions of the game – each in their own right and spanning different eras.

Sheedy was joined by Gavin Brown, Garry Hocking, Glen Jakovich, Tom McArthur, Geof Motley, Noel Teasdale and Des Tuddenham.

But Jesaulenko’s elevation from AFL Hall of Fame member to Legend status was the biggest news of the night.

Austrian-born Jesaulenko played a pivotal part in one of Carlton’s most successful eras, playing in four premierships (1968, 1970, 1972 and 1979) and also coaching the Blues to the ’79 flag.

The man in the No.25 jumper is perhaps best remembered for taking a spectacular mark in the 1970 VFL grand final, a game in which the Blues overcame a massive half-time deficit to defeat Collingwood by 10 points.

The high-flying forward, who later became a star in defence, also booted seven goals in the 1972 grand final as the Blues downed Richmond by 27 points.

With freakish skills and an uncanny ability to take a big mark, Jesaulenko was a genius of the game.

The eight inductees into the Hall of Fame brings the total number in the prestigious group to 219, after 136 were first inducted in 1996.

Gavin Brown played 254 games for Collingwood and captained the Magpies for five seasons. A star wingman in his early days, he was also able to play a variety of roles in order to help his side.

A three-time Copeland Trophy winner and member of Collingwood’s Team of the Century, he could always be counted on for a courageous effort, whether leading his club or even Victoria – which he did in 1997 in one of his 11 state appearances.

While Garry Hocking was as rugged and tough as any midfielder came, he was also sublimely skilled off either side of his body.

He pushed his body ruthlessly in 274 matches for Geelong, often treading where few would dare to win first possession for the Cats. A four-time All-Australian and best and fairest winner, he also captained his state and will long be remembered as one of the toughest to have worn the blue and white hoops.

Glen Jakovich was an integral part of the West Coast Eagles’ first two premierships. All sides need a strong defence, and Jakovich was a man mountain throughout his 276 matches in the Eagles jumper.

Near unbeatable in one-on-one contests, the four-time club champion represented his state and country with distinction, while his on-field leadership went a long way towards helping West Coast become the power it was in the mid-1990s.

Tom McArthur’s name is not well-known in VFL or AFL circles but his contribution to Australian football spans four decades. The Queenslander turned his hand to umpiring after a car accident cut short his playing career in 1959. By the time he retired in 1985 he had become one of the most decorated officials in the history of the game.

He umpired a national record 502 senior games, including 14 QAFL grand finals and 10 Queensland state representative matches. He is a life member of the AFL Queensland Umpires Association and has been named the state’s umpire of the century.

Geof Motley is a legend in SANFL circles, having been a member of all nine Port Adelaide premierships during the club’s golden run from 1954 to 1965. He also captained the club from 1959 until 1966.

In 258 senior games Motley was awarded his club’s best and fairest trophy four times and the SANFL’s highest individual honour, the Magarey Medal, in 1964. He was named on a half-forward flank in Port Adelaide’s ‘Greatest Team of All’ and is a life member of both the Magpies and the SANFL.

Kevin Sheedy enters the AFL Hall of Fame following a magnificent playing and coaching career. During 251 games for Richmond, Sheedy tasted premiership glory three times as well as winning a club best and fairest award, captaining his side, receiving the AFL Players’ Association Most Valuable Player award and representing Victoria eight times.

However it was perhaps as a coach – during a 27-year, 635-match tenure at Essendon –

that Sheedy would scale even greater heights. His appointment at the Bombers in 1981 marked the beginning of a golden era for the club. He guided the team to the finals 19 times for a total of 43 finals matches, winning flags in 1984, 1985, 1993 and 2000.

Noel Teasdale was a champion ruckman for North Melbourne who tied for the 1965 Brownlow Medal. He represented the Big V 19 times as well as being an All-Australian in 1966. The first ruck in North Melbourne’s Team of the Century, he was the Kangaroos’ best and fairest player four years in succession between 1963 and 1966 and captained North for three years toward the end of his career.

Teasdale took to wearing a head guard in 1965 after a fearsome head clash had left him hospitalised the previous year, but his dogged determination and physical presence were in no way diminished.

Des Tuddenham enjoyed an illustrious career across three clubs, but he will best be remembered for his deeds in a Collingwood jumper. He played 182 matches for the Magpies and captained them for five seasons.

He won a Copeland Trophy in just his second season at Victoria Park, and represented Victoria five times. He is a member of the Magpies’ Team of the Century.

Tuddenham was captain-coach of Essendon from 1972-75, later returning to captain the Magpies. Premiership glory narrowly eluded the star rover; he played in three losing Grand Finals.

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Video: How legends are made. Follow the links below for historical footage of Jezza and the eight inductees:

Alex Jesaulenko
Gavin Brown
Garry Hocking
Glen Jakovic
Tom McArthur
Geof Motley
Kevin Sheedy
Noel Teasdale
Des Tuddenham

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